Chapter 1
“Sir, they are waiting for you.”
Shreya’s voice pulled me back to reality.
I looked up from the pile of files scattered across my desk and rubbed my tired eyes.
When I glanced at the clock hanging on the wall, I immediately understood why she was standing there.
8:00 p.m.
Again.
I leaned back in my chair.
“So, does that mean I’m late again?”
A smile appeared on her face.
“Yes, sir. But don’t worry. I’ve already informed everyone.”
“Good.”
At least someone in this office was responsible.
Because it certainly wasn’t me.
I reached for the file in front of me, intending to stand up, when my phone vibrated.
A new message.
Normally, I would have ignored it.
But something made me look.
The moment I opened it and saw the picture, everything around me disappeared.
The office.
The files.
The meeting.
All of it.
Gone.
I stared at the screen.
Unable to look away.
Three years.
And somehow a single photograph still had the power to destroy my concentration.
Why did I do that?
Why did I let everything end the way it did?
The questions weren’t new.
They never were.
They simply refused to leave.
For a few moments I forgot Shreya was even standing in front of me.
Eventually, I locked my phone and forced myself back to reality.
“What happened about the conference in Delhi?” I asked.
“Abhishek is going. He’ll be back in three days. His flight is right after the meeting.”
I nodded slowly.
Then a thought crossed my mind.
Before I could stop myself, I made a decision.
“Send Abhishek a message.”
She waited.
“I’m going instead.”
For the first time that evening, she looked genuinely surprised.
“Sir?”
“Book my ticket.”
She blinked twice.
Clearly trying to decide whether I was joking.
I wasn’t.
“You want to attend the conference yourself?”
“Yes.”
The answer came much faster than I expected.
For a moment she simply stared at me.
Then she nodded and left to arrange everything.
A few minutes later she returned.
“Your ticket has been booked, sir. The return ticket as well.”
“Actually...”
I paused.
“I’ll stay a little longer.”
She looked confused again.
“Book my return flight two days after the conference ends.”
Another surprised expression.
Another silent nod.
At this point I was fairly certain she thought I had lost my mind.
Maybe she wasn’t entirely wrong.
A few moments later my phone buzzed again.
Abhishek.
Why are you suddenly going? Is everything okay?
I couldn’t help smiling.
Even through a text message, he sounded concerned.
I have some work in Delhi. Besides, it might be nice to meet some new people.
Then I typed another message.
Take a break instead. Go to Goa with Naina. Spend some time with your daughter.
A few seconds later the typing indicator appeared.
Then disappeared.
Then appeared again.
I locked the phone before he could reply.
I already knew what he wanted to ask.
The same thing everyone would ask if they knew the truth.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t ready to answer it.
Not even to myself.
Shreya was still watching me carefully.
Trying to understand what exactly had happened.
This was probably the first spontaneous decision she had seen me make in years.
“Sir, we’re getting late.”
I looked up.
“Yeah. Just ten minutes.”
She nodded.
“I’ll wait in the meeting room.”
After she left, silence returned to the office.
The kind of silence that makes old memories louder.
My eyes drifted back towards the phone.
Towards the picture.
The same picture.
The same smile.
The same reason I was suddenly flying to Delhi.
“This will be the last time.”
The words escaped before I could stop them.
Whether I was making a promise or lying to myself, I honestly didn’t know.
When I finally checked the time again, fifteen minutes had passed.
“Well then.”
I stood up.
“I guess I have work to do.”
Taking a deep breath, I left my cabin and headed towards the meeting room.
Our company mainly dealt with skincare products.
And with the Indian market growing rapidly every year, competition had become stronger than ever.
By the time I entered the meeting room, everyone was already there.
Raj.
Abhishek.
The marketing team.
A few department heads.
Basically, every person whose life goal was apparently to make mine more difficult.
Raj stood near the projector screen.
The presentation had already begun.
As expected, he was completely in his element.
Confident.
Energetic.
Annoyingly good at his job.
He explained how upcoming events could improve brand awareness, attract new customers, and strengthen our position in the market.
The ideas were good.
Very good, actually.
But I still wasn’t completely convinced.
When he finished, I shared my thoughts.
“The strategy works.”
Raj looked pleased.
Then I continued.
“But influencer marketing is becoming predictable.”
His smile disappeared.
Everyone else’s appeared.
“People are smarter now,” I said. “Most of them know influencers don’t actually use the products they promote.”
A few people nodded.
Raj sighed dramatically.
“One day you’ll learn to appreciate my genius.”
“Today’s not that day.”
The meeting continued for another hour before finally ending.
One by one, people gathered their laptops and left.
Eventually only three of us remained.
Me.
Raj.
And Abhishek.
The professional atmosphere disappeared instantly.
As usual.
Raj leaned back in his chair.
“So.”
I already knew that tone.
“What?”
“When are you leaving for Delhi?”
“Fifteen minutes.”
“Good.”
Then he grinned.
“We finally get freedom.”
I pointed at him.
“Don’t make trouble in my house.”
His grin widened.
“And don’t invite Shreya to one of your ridiculous late-night parties.”
Abhishek laughed.
Raj looked offended.
“Grandpa, please. Have some faith.”
“No.”
“Fair.”
Even I laughed at that one.
Abhishek eventually spoke.
“Actually, I wanted to ask something.”
That never ended well.
“What?”
“I spoke with Shreya earlier.”
I already didn’t like where this was going.
“She said you’re staying in Delhi for five days.”
I nodded.
“So?”
“So...”
A smile appeared on his face.
“Are you meeting someone?”
The room suddenly became quieter.
I answered immediately.
“Just some old college friends.”
Neither of them looked convinced.
Especially Raj.
He wasn’t even trying to hide it.
He simply stared at me.
The kind of stare that saysI know you’re lying.
Maybe he was right.
Maybe that was exactly why I was going.
After all, anyone could have attended the conference.
Raj.
Abhishek.
Literally anyone.
I hated conferences.
Always had.
Yet somehow I was the one boarding the flight.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Raj finally broke the silence.
“If I find out you went there looking for her again...”
His voice turned serious.
“...I’ll kill you myself.”
I looked away.
For once, he wasn’t joking.
“I’ve seen what she did to you.”
His expression softened.
“I’ve seen you crying every damn night.”
The room became silent again.
Then he sighed.
“Just move on.”
I wanted to answer.
I really did.
But some lies become easier than the truth.
“I’m meeting family.”
I stood up.
“My cousins.”
Then grabbed my phone.
“Some old friends.”
A pause.
“And whoever you’re talking about...”
I forced a smile.
“I don’t know her.”
Nobody believed me.
Including myself.
Fortunately, before either of them could continue, the door opened.
“Sir.”
Shreya stepped inside.
“It’s time to leave for the airport.”
Perfect timing.
I silently thanked every god that existed.
While walking towards the door, I glanced at her.
“Seriously, how do you tolerate Raj every day?”
“I can hear you!”
His voice echoed through the room.
I smiled.
“That was the purpose.”
A few hours later, I was sitting on a flight to Delhi.
The city lights disappeared beneath the clouds as the plane climbed higher into the night sky.
Around me, people chatted happily.
Some watched movies.
Some scrolled through social media.
Others slept peacefully.
Everyone looked successful.
Comfortable.
Satisfied.
At least from a distance.
But appearances had always been deceptive.
Social media had convinced people that everyone else lived perfect lives.
No mistakes.
No heartbreak.
No regrets.
Just happiness.
Personally?
I never believed it.
Every person carries something they wish they could change.
Some hide it better than others.
That was the only difference.
I looked out the window.
The darkness outside reflected my own face back at me.
And for the first time that night, I stopped pretending.
I had regrets too.
The regret of leaving her.
The regret of never saying what I truly felt.
The regret of taking her for granted every single time she stayed.
Funny, isn’t it?
You never realize someone’s importance while they’re standing beside you.
You realize it after they’re gone.
After the calls stop.
After the messages remain unanswered.
After all that’s left are memories.
I closed my eyes.
Delhi was still hours away.
But somehow...
the past was already waiting for me there.
